Monday, 20 April 2009

Kitchen Electronics - small appliances, smoothie


There are two types of people I feel sorry for. The one type are the people who give this product a negative review because they can't follow some simple instructions, and the other being the people who will be put off buying this blender because of the first. I have been using this device a lot for a while now and the bottom line is that it works great. Just as with anything else, as long as you take care of it properly then it will last a while. The whole thing is extremely easy to put together and take apart. I was able to figure it out with common sense and not even reading the directions the first time I put it together. I later went back and read the instructions to confirm what I had already figured out. I have blended using both the cups and the big blender jar and I am proud to report that it has fully blended all of my fresh AND frozen fruit until totally smooth with no big chunks of fruit. As a lesson to the other negative reviewers here are a few common sense points I have put together for you and others that may have problems. #1 - A blender is supposed to be loud (in case you have never used one before) #2 - If you are blending a smoothie, the more you blend/pulse the smoother it will be! If you only blend for 10 seconds then you will have a lot of chunks of fruit. There's a reason why most if not all of the smoothie recipes tell you to add liquid as well. I RARELY write reviews on amazon but I felt compelled to after reading the ridiculous negative reviews of this blender. Enjoy! Hamilton Beach 52147H Dual Wave Versatile Blender, Silver

As with any kitchen appliance... you must know how to properly operate it to give a fair evaluation. I couldn't undertand how people reported having "chunks" that could not blend. Sad to say...I now realize that most of the poor reviews were from people who don't know how to properly make a smoothie...



I purchased this blender for a 4th of July outdoor event where I sold smoothies to the public.... I sold 230 ea. (20 oz.) during the day. This machine worked perfectly... blended smooth, powerful, 80 oz. capacity pitcher is a huge bonus for parties but can also blend single 20 oz portions without a problem.



BIGGEST ADVANTAGE.....

NO AIR GAP !!! Most blenders create an "air bubble" when blending...Some Smoothie machines have a "Wand" that helps you stir while blending, to keep from the Air Gap from happening.... The Twin Blade system creates a smooth distribution of liquid and keeps the mixture moving.... This is a definite advantage over a single blade smoothie...



I love this machine... Was actually very inexpensive compared to a commercial blender I was considering for my event. On July 5th... I purchased one for my home !!!



As a professional chef, I would highly recommend this blender...

Chef John

I dont know what everyone is complaining about, this is the best dang thing I've purchased in a long time! I use it only for smoothies. I bought it because it has dual blades, dual chambers, separate cups - but you can do 2 cups at a time if you wish. The whole process to make my protein smoothie takes all of 3 minutes. I am 9 1/2 months pregnant, and trust me, if it were difficult to use, I wouldn't use it! The cleanup is amazingly simple. I just rinse the removable blade in hot water and replace. I simply rinse the cups and caps the same way, and it's ready for tomorrow. I make my smoothies with frozen and fresh fruit, juice and protein powder. I think the people who say it doesn't work well dont make smoothies correctly - you need a liquid in order for the ice or frozen pieces to rotate around the blades - this is true for even the very best blenders. If youa re like me and want a smoothie daily, with minimal work, mess or clean up, and only want to use a small bit of counter space... It's PERFECT!

I didn't buy this from Amazon. I am happy with how it works. I haven't used the large size one, but the smaller smoothie cup sizes and convenient and do the job. It blends everything pretty well, fits a large/wide sized straw in the little drinking hole, and fits in the cup holder of my car. I've used it several times now and have not had any problems.

Cant imagine someone complaining about the noise. Its normal and works great. Best blender ive ever had. My wife Karen loves it for smoothies, and also rates it good. Easy to put together, and built well. I also like the fact that you can push the cord up inside it, so you dont have extra cord on the counter. signed Oregon Couple

I've owned the Dual Wave blender for over 18 months now. I use the small containers to make individual smoothies. The larger container gets a workout making malts for the whole family once a week. It's large enough that I only have to make one container full. Other blenders don't hold as much and I'd have to make 2. I had the Magic Bullet before this and the motor burned up within a year. This unit is still going strong after a year and it gets used on a daily basis. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

I don't usually write reviews for products, but I felt compelled to do so after seeing the relatively low star rating.



I think this is a great blender. It pureed a soup with whole tomatoes quickly and beautifully, and also made great smoothies. It blends ice wonderfully; it does a much better job than my old blender.



The option of using either the large canister or the individual canisters is convenient.



I also love the cord storage, although I must note that it's a bit difficult to push the cord back into the cord storage. (It works, but it would be nicer if the cord rolled up into the body of the blender with less effort).

We are a two chef household and never without the latest kitchen gadget. We've had this about a year now and I think it has both advantages and disadvantages.



We bought it primarily for making smoothies and for that it served its purpose well for a long time. I found that it blended them smoothly and was convenient if you wished to just to one at a time or do two different flavors. While the cups didn't hold up longer than a year, I still found this to be a great advantage while we had it.



The only thing that has stopped me from replacing the cups and not buying this again is that we do also like to use a regular blender for certain things as well like margaritas during a party, soups, etc. The problem is that when you replace the two smoothie cups with the larger capacity one unit blender function it shows you why most blenders only have one blade at the bottom...it just doesn't work well for one large batch. The food or drink or ice cant go down to the bottom blade (as there are two blades on each side) so if caught in between the two it just won't mix well. Then we had lots of leaks from the spigot and the only way to pour it out easily is from that easily and sometimes you just need to pick up the blender cup and pour which you can't do from the spigot.



So, while we've enjoyed our smoothies for a year, it's time to replace it with a regular ol blender. For us, for it's multiple uses, it just was a better match and has less parts to keep up with and this takes up quite a bit of room in the cabinet with all the parts when I could just pour from a regular blender into a cup.



That said, if you only make smoothies? It will mix them well in the small cups...just be aware you may need to do some frequent replacement of the cup parts in which case buying a delux blender could pan out cheaper in the long run... - Small Appliances - Smoothie - Hamilton Beach - Smoothie Maker'


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Office Supplies - sticky notes, post-it notes


The description is misleading. It says "Four pads" but these pads are really thin and have about half the number of post its as the usual size pads. Nowhere in the description does it state how many sheets are in each so I just assumed these were the standard size pads you get everywhere. These are really equivalent to 2 pads you buy in the store. Post-it Notes, Original Pad, 3 Inches x 3 Inches, Assorted Ultra Colors, Value Pack, 14 Pads per Pack (654-14AU)

I got these on a gold box deal, which is a good thing other wise they would be going back! the packs are only 50 sheets per, so really it is only the size of two normal stacks. Normally, Post-its come in stacks of 100. Nowhere on the description does it say they are any smaller than normal size, or the actual number of sheets per pack.

I guess almost everybody uses Post-it Notes. They're quite handy and I wish I'd invented it. The colors in this pack are as nice as they get. That leaves price. I compared price against the other major online office supply vendors and this was the best.



I'd recommend this product to anybody, especially because the price was good. Post-it notes come in handy and it seems that everybody uses them. You run through them but they seem to last awhile since these packs have so many individual notes to peel off.



The price is right. I checked.

These guys make my life worth living. Without a constant stream of Post-it notes, my life would be a sad shambles. Especially in a work environment, these notes are essential. I live these because the colors appeal to me (I've never been a big fan of the weak Gatorade colored originals) and make it even more enjoyable to leave notes on my and others desks.



Easily one of the best inventions of the 20th century (right up there with playdough) Post-its are fantastic.

I know: who's going to write about a Post-It Note? However...



These regular time-tested Post-It Notes seem to have been replaced with an ultra-super sticky version that sticks to everything -- but doesn't want to let go of paper without a battle.



Hey 3M: don't get rid of Post-It Notes Classic!

Well a Post-it is a Post-it and I must always have them handy. I ordered this as a price builder to get the free shipping on another item. I will probably order this again when I need them or need to qualify for the free shipping. When I bought this it had free shipping from Amazon.

How can you not love Post-it notes? I use these to fill-up an order that is a buck or two below the "free shipping" amount. Keep a pad in the kitchen drawer, by the bedroom phone, in the car glove box, and in the bathroom. Cheaper to buy in bulk, but still ... worth it. If all else fails your imagination, give these away as party favors for the under-ten crowd.

I have an appointment with my accountant at 2:30 tomorrow. On the way home I need to pick up some eggs and butter. Zambrano pitches on Thursday; don't forget to tune in! A company rep is coming to see me next Tuesday. Mail that alimony check today (blech)! Don't forget you got a fasting lab on Friday morning.



You think I'm going to remember all this. . .stuff? That would be a negative! But the folks at 3M got me covered, and have for years, with their marvelous POST-IT NOTES. I love the multi-colored 3 x 3 inch notes; I just write myself a note and post somewhere in the vicinity of my desk, credenza, or PC monitor. Once the event in question is history, just peel off the note, crumple, and dispose. Yep, that easy!



3M POST-IT 3 X 3 INCH NOTES, FIVE COLORS, 100 SHEETS 14 PACK make even me look organized and on top of things. 3M, you've definitely created one of the true marvels of the modern world.

--D. Mikels, Esq. - Marvelous - Post-it Notes - Sticky Notes'


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Battery - battery


When the original batteries for my 18v Ridgid cordless drill would no longer hold a charge, I was shocked to find that a single battery at Home Depot cost almost as much as a new drill. However, my drill was still in good shape and I hated to be so wasteful as to throw it away.



I did a web search and found these batteries for almost half the price that Home Depot charged. I bought two and they work great! I look forward to getting several more years of life from my drill. Ridgid 130252001 18 Volt Battery

I bought two lithium batteries and one of these. This battery has turned out to be my best one. I will be purchasing more soon. I get the longest usage and best power out it. The lithiums have good power but don't seem to hold up as long. This also had the best price. In size it is between the standard battery and the lithiums.

Extremely disappointed with this purchase, and more importantly Ridgid tools in general. Apparently Ridgid does not have a proprietary standard for its batteries to fit their products, but after I purchased 2 of these batteries to replace the 2 batteries which mysteriously died after only 2 years of use (and were only used about 3 times a year), they would not fit my drill. My dad has el-cheapo brand Ryobi cordless tools, and has his batteries have lasted him for years and years and they still work! To make matters worse, to return this item, I would have to pay the $16 again to ship it back (for a total of $32), plus face up to a 50% restocking charge ($40)! It is actually more beneficial to not return them and go purchase other Ridgid tools to use these batteries on, than to return them! This is a terrible pickle to be in!



The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is because I technically never got to even test the battery with my drill. - Battery'


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Fast Gun


I bought this nailer a couple of weeks after hurricane Katrina in preparation for the work ahead rebuilding some of my house. I've driven about 4000 nails and it has worked flawlessly. I've framed walls, hung sheathing, nailed decks and rafters. It has set every nail from 2" to 3 1/4" with no problems. I've also nailed some ceiling joist when the wood was too old/hard to nail by hand ... no problems. I have not tried 3 1/2" nails yet but from the performance I've experienced so far, I don't expect those to be a problem. The nailer has double fired on a couple of occasions but I was in tight situations where my arm movement was restricted and I'm sure that was the cause. I've read some really good reviews about Hitachi nailers but if I had it to do over I would buy the Senco FP602 again. I highly recommend this gun. Senco FramePro 602 Full Round Head Sequential Nailer

I bought one of these nail guns about three years ago and now I am shopping for a replacement. Although I have used Senco nail guns for more than 20 years, my new nail gun will not be a Senco. The owner's manual is generic, covering a wide range of Senco models but not this particular model. When it jammed (and it does jam), I had to phone Senco to find out how to free the jam. Although the older Senco nail guns had an easy system for freeing a jam, this one does not. You have to take the lower part of the gun apart. I cannot get the depth adjustment to work consistently. Sometimes it sets a 16 penny nail correctly and sometimes it does not.

I'm using this nailer for a couple of years now. Very powerful and easy to use nailer. However, there are some disappointment. First the nail magazine is too weak(thin aluminum) and it gets bent so easy the nail strips won't go in. You have to gently hammer it to straighten it out to fix that problem. Also the dry fire protection activates too early. There are some nails still left and it won't work until you load another strip. Other than that, it has good balance, agressive tow nailing tip, lots of power to sink nails without stopping. I will still use it, but I'll go for Hitachi next time.

Refurbished unit did not work from the get-go. Took it to the authorized service center in Denver where they lubed it up and restored to working order. Was told the Refurb units often sit on the shelf for extended periods and *dry out*. Worked well for small framing job...about 500 nails. Sat on the shelf for a year after that, then attempted to use again....no luck.

Guessing it would work well purchased as a new unit and used consistently.'


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Kindle Devices - kindle devices, horse magazine


If you are looking for a Horse magazine full of articles and not ads this is the one for you. We have been getting H&R for 2 years and will keep getting it.The articles are good for western show,western pleasure, and good sound training tips; for anyone that wants to enjoy their horse with out a fight. Horse & Rider (1-year auto-renewal)

In my opinion, the best horse magazine on the market. I am thankful that I can buy it from Amazon, as it is cheaper that way. The magazine has the best articles on training horses from some of the top trainers in the country.

This is a great magazine. I'm primarily an english rider but the articles and training information is great. My favorite part is the conformation where they show you 3 horses and explain why each horse is judged based on conformation criteria. Its really interesting and has helped me understand how the design of a horse truly affects the way they ride.

I so look forward to receiving this magazine! And the rate offered by Amazon makes it an affordable treat! There's always something that you can relate to as someone who enjoys riding, even if you're a weekend or casual rider.

Purchased Horse & Rider magazine subscription through Amazon.com. Got conformation email. Few days later got order canceled, please reorder email. Reordered and the same thing happened again. Don't waist your time with this...just subscribe through Horse & Rider.

The magazine is good, but ordering through Amazon has its drawbacks. I ordered in on 12/18/08 and won't get the first issue until 3/19/09 (at lease that is what it says on my order). I should have paid the extra money and subscribed directly from the magazine. - E-reader - Horse Magazine - Ebook - Kindle Devices'


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Plumbing - plumbing, wrenches


I work in apartment maintenance. After struggling, many times, to remove the damn nuts that hold the sinks in place I decided to try this toy out. I figured with all the modern technology and computer design these days, maybe Ridgid had come up with a miracle tool for installing/uninstalling sinks. Sadly, this is not the case. The most prominent issue so far is the length of the tool. If the sinks water lines aren't perfectly straight or if there is something in the way of the tool such as a garbage disposal, then forget about it, totally useless tool. If you're lucky enough to have perfectly straight water lines and a lot of open space under the sink, then the next issue is not stripping the tabs off the plastic nuts. I tried many times to slip this tool onto those plastic nuts and even if I got it on, either the nuts tabs would bend/strip or break off completely or the tool itself will bend and slip off. You see, since there is an open slot,to allow it to slip over the water lines, it also bends if you apply even a small amount of force. Using it to turn off the water supply shut off valves is more cumbersome than just using channel locks. Normally, I'm a big fan of Ridgid tools but this one falls short in so many areas, it's just not worth it IMO. Ridgid 66807 Faucet and Sink Installer Model 2006

This tool is phenomenal. I ordered it because i was having an issue getting to the bathroom faucet itself with my regular basin wrench. Removing the plastic nuts were also a task. This was my first time ever even taking on any kind of plumbing home improvement short of cleaning out an aerator. I read some of the other reviews and I decided to purchase even though some were not favorable..i am so glad i did.. The tool gave me the extra torque i needed to remove the nuts and it is a quality product...Didn't strip or break I was able to finish in about 20 minutes. Now I think I am gonna tackle the kitchen faucet upgrade.. - Wrenches - Plumbing'


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Blackberry Torch 9800 - torch, unlocked cell phones


Here goes. I bought this device because I love that it combined the full qwerty keyboard with a touchscreen. I found out that not everything that glitters is gold.



I love:



Full keyboard, camera and display on this device. It has a very smooth track to open the keyboard. It's simply a perfect idea in its conception.



I hate:



It's slow and I mean slow on the processor end. It takes some getting used to in order to delete multiple messages, but the WORST is that when I am on a call, the darn thing intermitently pushes numbers (like if your toddler was trying to get your attention and starting pushing the button on the phone to make them beep). It also has put people on speaker phone while we are talking which is a big no-no for me. Lastly, it hangs up while I'm on a call, which is the worst insult of all. And no, I don't have a fat cheek.



I can't imagine that RIM's engineers and beta testers didn't run into the problem. At least with my IPhone, the screen goes black when you put it up to your ear so this doesn't happen. I say back to the drawing board and I'm sending this back. BlackBerry 9800 Torch Unlocked Phone with 5 MP Camera, Full QWERTY Keyboard, 4 GB Internal Storage, and Slider Card Slot Up to 32GB - International Version with No Warranty (Black)

I've been through a couple 8220 Flips and a 9550 Storm 2 that I've owned and I've used a few Curves and Bolds and this is by far the best Blackberry, hands down. Trying to compare it to previous BB models is downright unfair as it blows the all out of the water. The touch screen is a huge improvement over the Storm 2 and its nice to see standard gestures like pinch to zoom are supported. The fact that it has the full querty keyboard and trackpad makes it an easy transition from non-touch phones and also makes it more efficient in general as a lot of operations feel more natural doing it the "old-fashioned" way instead of touch-screen.

The camera is much improved and BB OS6 is a huge improvement over previous versions. I love Social Feeds and how tightly the apps integrate with your contacts and the phone sofware in general. The new search feature is great too; just start typing and it brings results from contacts, emails, social feeds, applications, etc.



So basically, as far as Blackberrys are concerned, you can't go wrong!



Compared to other smartphones and mainly the iPhone4 you can tell that the touchscreen still has a ways to go before it reaches the same maturity as the others who've been doing this for longer. Also, as far as apps go, its definitely lacking. There are very few good free apps and games and the games are just downright terrible compared to the amazing stuff that's coming out for iPhone. That said, gaming probably isn't a big priority if you want a Blackberry.



All in all, I'm very satisfied! I've been wanting this phone for over 6 months and watched tons of reviews and hyped the thing up so much and despite all of that I still managed to get surprised with this phone. It's awesome!



Pros

----

+ Real touchscreen with all gestures

+ Trackpad and QWERTY Keyboard = best of both worlds

+ BB OS6 is great

+ 5MP camera



Cons

----

- Touch is a little awkward at times

- Freezes/chokes for a few seconds occasionally

- Lacking in app department

- Crappy games

I bought the phone to be used in India and so far it has been a good phone and works as expected. Below are pros and cons in my opinion



Pros

1. Good looking and sturdy feel.

2. It has the most recent blackberry OS which is a bit more user friendly and intuitive than the previous version

3. The touchscreen interface is similar to iPhone and much better than the BB storm



Cons

1. The touch keyboard is not as reponsive as the iPhone. It may get better with more practice but atleast initially it feels a bit clumsier and tad too sensitive. The physical keyboard is good.

2. The OS is still not as user friendly as the iPhone's iOS.

3. The BB appworld is a joke compared to Apple. Also the fact there are multiple sources for downloading the apps takes some getting used to. Some of the apps such as Vonage and Skype are not available for blackberry torch. I hope this gets resolved soon.



Overall, not a bad phone.

I had this phone for over a month now, and here are just some thoughts about it.



I enjoy reading online novels, and having this phone I am allow to sit in my car reading something while just chilling or waiting for someone.

It works perfectly fine with some short stories. But when it goes to loading huge amount of texts (300,000 and up), it takes quite some time(maybe 3 or 4 minutes or even more) to just finish downloading the page, and then it will take another 2 minutes to adjust the format as you zoom in. And if you are not careful enough holding the device up tight and so happen to flip it just a bit (or maybe just taking a sip of a drink or a call), it will automatically change its viewing from straight to side and here goes another extra 2 minutes again.

I don't know if iphone or android have the same problem; yet I am actually fine with waiting the initial 3 minutes of the loading part.

But honestly, I think it should have some sort of applications to lock the viewing as you are surfing the internet.



And sometimes, it doesn't happen very often, while you are surfing the internet, the page somehow freezes and the back of the device starts heating up. And within 1 or 2 minutes period, the battery life suddently drops about 30%. I kinda worry if this is goning to damage the device.



The actual keyboard is awesome, but the touch screen keyboard is just retarded. You often typed in the letter below the one you actually typed.



The camera doesn't have a tiny mirror next to it, so it's really hard for you to take a picture of yourself.



The back cover became a bit lose after I accidently dropped it six inches height to the desk, but it is probably my own fault (however I still haven't found the part that makes the cover lose).



I think it's an ok device, and if rim fixes the touch screen keyboard and make some adjustments to the internet surfing, I'd rate it as 4 stars. - Unlocked Cell Phones - Blackberry - Unlocked - Torch'


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Hdtv - hdtv


I picked up the Samsung 51" D550 from Sears on the 12th. I'd only discovered the TV online a couple hours before buying it. Always wanted a Samsung and once I saw it in the store, I was sold. Had to have it.

Received a pair [2] of Samsung's new 3100 3D glasses. [Will write a separate review for those.] Beware, this TV is HUGE. I swear, it didn't look this big in the store.



Picture Quality is outstanding. Break-in isn't necessary. I ran slides for a day before using the TV regularly. No IR at all. Blacks are deep and rich, Colors are rich and life-like. I haven't had it professionally calibrated, just using settings I've found on the AVS forum and tweaking them to my likes.

Settings are very, very customizable. SD programs are good. Soft at times but very watchable. Of course, HD/Blu-Ray/DVD content is out of this world. Audio is surprisingly excellent. Very clear and loud. I rarely go up above 11.



Also no buzzing. I heard a slight noise when I set the picture settings to Dynamic but it isn't an issue since I won't be using. [That setting is too bright and saturated for my tastes.]



3D is also great. I don't really have much experience in this area since this is my first 3D TV. There was no ghosting, trailing, or halo-effect. Same for the 2D to 3D conversion. I watched Avatar converted and the actual Tron: Legacy 3D blu-ray and both films look great.



For anyone who loves the "Soap Opera" effect, Cinema Smooth works great. I love the effect so I've left it on.



Overall, it's a great TV. Very happy with the purchase it. Great plasma. Lush colors, Deep Blacks, 3D, and great SD/HD quality. Samsung PN51D550 51-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Plasma HDTV (Black)

I was in the market to upgrade from a 37" LCD and after much deliberation, soul searching, and navel gazing I decided that the PN51D550's size and features were too good to pass up. I'm not really a 3D kinda guy but I have two young kids so the inclusion of that particular bell and whistle was non-negotiable. Considering that Amazon had it for around $950.00 including shipping, well that was just too good to pass up. Log into the account, whip out the credit card, light a novena candle to ensure safe shipping and hope for the best (and it shipped just fine.)



So far I've had this machine for about a week and I must say I've been relieved and ecstatic at my decision. I'm about fifty hours into breaking in the thing (I know, I know, unnecessary perhaps but I'd much rather err on the side of caution) and it's been a love affair from the get go. Like most HDTV's, watching stuff in standard def isn't pretty but it's passable. The real beauty comes when watching stuff in HD, when everything just comes alive. Blacks are inky, reds are redder than Lenin, and the images are clean enough to eat off of. If you've ever wanted to count the lines on Gordon Ramsay's face you've come to the right TV.



Because I'm still doing break in, I haven't watched any BluRays on it yet, but I'll edit my review once I get around to doing that. I also can't comment on the TV's native audio quality because I have this hooked up to a receiver, which I'd highly recommend for anyone in the market for one of these. These sets were made to be complemented by 5.1, 7.1, or 7.2 channel systems. If you are planning on doing the receiver thing, just remember that this particular model does NOT support the ARC function so you'll need an optical audio cable as well as an HDMI cable when hooking up.



EDIT, 7/16: After sheepishly remembering that BluRays with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio won't show black bars I tested out a few and the results were mesmerizing. The blacks on THE DARK KNIGHT were obsidian, as they were on TRON:LEGACY but alternately the vivid whites, oranges, reds, and yellows on that film were exceptionally vivid and incandescent. I also played a few laps of GRAN TURISMO through a PS3 and it was an out of body experience. It was like the textbook definition of every color being displayed, and with no visible lag whatsoever. Astonishing. I'm coming close to the 100 hour point and I can't wait to check out 2.35:1 stuff.



I don't believe in giving out calibration settings because I believe that no two TVs, and more crucially, no two TV owners are going to see the exact same thing the exact same way but I will say that once you put the PN51D550 in Movie mode about 95% of the calibration is done, at least to my peepers.



As for glare, yeah, it's there. You might want to consider in advance where you're going to place this baby because in the middle of a sunny day with the blinds and drapes open this thing does a killer impression of a mirror. I've found though that when I sit off to the side a bit (and this TV has an amazing viewing range, like most plasmas) the glare is much less noticeable. When you're viewing at night and don't want to sit in complete darkness, consider placing your lamps either to the side or slightly behind the set to avoid or reduce glare.



All told, I can't think of another major name brand TV that brings together the best combination of size, features, and quality for under $1,000. At this (admittedly early) stage, I can honestly say that this is the best TV I've ever had the pleasure of owning.



SON OF EDIT, 9/15: After two and a half months, I'm still smitten. A couple more thoughts to share:



1. I cannot stress enough the importance of a break in period so all those cute little plasmites can burn evenly. I was watching the special features on the TAXI DRIVER blu ray when I stupidly fell asleep during one of the Scorcese interviews (you know you're REALLY tired if you can fall asleep to him talking.) Of course after the interview ends, the disc goes back to the main menu which has bright yellow cursive graphics all over the place. Two hours later I woke up, ejected the disc, turned off the PS3, and found some faint burn in on the blank, black screen. After smacking my forehead in self punishment, I immediately turned on an HD movie channel and let THE RING run for about five minutes. When I turned the box off to check on the screen, voila!, burn in gone. A little preparation goes a long way.



2. SD content looks a bit better now, though it's obviously no match for blu rays or 720p, or those rare 1080p, broadcasts. Watching stuff on channels like Antenna TV or TV Land is a lot less messier than it was when the TV was right out of the box. If have streaming services like Netflix or Hulu+ the quality varies. Newer content, especially on Hulu+ looks and sounds outstanding, but older, grainier Netflix content looks appropriately disastrous. Well mastered DVDs played through a PS3 look terrific.



I'm still insanely happy with this set. Not for nothing do I refer to it as The Third Child. - Hdtv'


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Amazon Digital Services - android, ebook reader


Initially, I didn't plan on getting PES 2012 but after playing around with FIFA 12 and noting the upgrade from last year to this year and also wanting to find out why there are so many mixed feelings on the two, I broke down and bought PES anyway.I will preface by saying that I have not gotten a chance to completely go through both games to see all of the differences. While I did play FIFA 11 if did not play PES 2011 so I have no way to compare last year's game to this one at this time. I have not finished a season nor have I really had a chance to play online and quite frankly I am not an online player, now if I can get more of my friends into these games I would play online more (HINT!). I did however play mostly with the modes and options that mattered to me and for anyone else; so I will say that your miles may vary with your own personal experience. However after playing through both games, I felt that I could give you as a reader a glimpse of what you may or may not like about both.For starters, let's just come out and talk about licensing, since that is what matters to some. FIFA has ALL of it. PES doesn't, but it does have some. However, one thing I DO like about PES (let me add that I am playing both on the 360)is that as long as your team is not licensed, if you have that kind of time on your hands, you can go in and tinker all you want until you have your team even the logos (someone hurry up with that patch!). For example, only Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs are licensed in the English League therefore you can't edit the unis for them. Any other team in there you can go to town, especially if there are some kits that you think are just hideous, you can make to your liking and that's something I may do if time is available. PES of course has rights over the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup competitions as well as Copa Santander Libertadores. People who really want these competitions may lean towards this title.Next up, since we are talking about visuals, I have to say that PES does lean a little more towards authenticity in terms of STATIC graphics as far as dynamic lighting and even the crowd. I noticed that game crowds happen to wear the home team kits and while the animations for them is a little too uniform (when will people start taking notes from 2K Sports about crowd animations??) it's surely a lot better looking than the cardboard cutouts in FIFA. Another small thing I did note is that stadiums tend to be empty or full depending on the type of match or popularity of your team in PES. Playing a friendly and your starts aren't in, your stadium may just have enough people in the lower levels, play your rival and it's packed. Even the time of day and year makes a diference in the lighting effect and adds somewhat to the immersion. Small touches like that can sell me on a game. As far as in game animation, I would say that FIFA has PES beaten in some areas as there are more animations when players collide on each other or play on the ball and this is in part due to the new physics engine. Player likenesses, however I lean more towards PES as some of the faces and skin tones look closer to actual players than FIFA does. Also, some players in PES tend to be more animated in PES than FIFA in terms of missed shots, fouls or even just warming up on the field.As far as the game play itself, which a lot of people put a lot of emphasis on, I can see why people say that FIFA feels more 'arcadey'. In PES, I felt that you really had to have more skill to maneuver the ball down the pitch and build up the play before you can just let one fly. The controls in both games seem to be very precise and even though you have a sprint button in both (as well as a Speed burst in PES), in PES just because you hold the sprint button down for any player, doesn't guarantee that you are going to run past and beat defenders downfield as sometimes will occur in FIFA 12. And actually giving credit where it's due with the tactical defending, push/pull system and the ability to call in a 2nd team mate, FIFA has almost eliminated sprinting abuse. PES also has some of these elements built into the game already and although I didn't play last year's iteration, it makes me wonder if this is something the PES has done for awhile and EA Sports just caught up to this, added it in and is selling FIFA 12 based this feature. I wouldn't be surprised. Both games also have the ability to allow you to tinker around with your on the field playing style and tactics so you can manage the game how you want. I do feel however, that the games are neck and neck as far as game play, especially on defense, is concerned. Well, so far it may seem like PES has an advantage, but where does it fall down? By the end of the week this may change, but the rosters are not 100% up to date out of the box and I think that there are a few players whose stats are overblown, but I did read yesterday afternoon that a patch is due out to address some of these issues. One glaring thing I saw was that Cech Fabregas was still playing for Arsenal (North London) and Tom Cleverley was still out on loan. Again when this patch drops, hopefully this will be cleaned up. There also is no substitution animation in PES. When you make changes you simply get an alert as to who is in and who is out. May not mean much to some (hey refer back to my stadium crowd issue)but that was a touch I like in FIFA. The biggest issue I have with this game is the commentary. I am sorry but Jim Beglin and Jon Champion are in need of No Doz. There are many stretches of the game where they may barely say the players' name or nothing at all and build no excitement to watching the play unfold until a shot is attempted. This is one area that FIFA shines in that no matter which English commentary team you get, you will feel immersed into the game.This year's sound trax on both are pretty hit or miss to me and really if I had it my way, I would find (Hmmm something to do later) a way to put my EA trax from last year on both...hehe!Timesinks: Both of these games have something outside of the normal modes that may keep you busy for a long while running. FIFA 12 did add on a somewhat deeper, managerial mode this year but PES' Football Life feels like it has more meat on the bone (I heard that last year's was deep also because there is so much more to do than on FIFA. You get to run more of the team aspects such as sponsoring, training, transfers and so forth. You can hire staff for various parts of your operation and there are animated scenes that guide you along the way. While all of this feels nice and good, my small complaint is that this late into the life cycle of the 360, it may have been cool to have some voice work to go along with it instead of all the reading that comes along with it.This is something that I wish FIFA had and if anything keeps me from playing FIFA 12 for a stretch, this would be it. It's a crime that most sports games nowadays don't have, as a standard, a deep franchise/GM mode to allow you to hype up or mess up your team any way you please! It seems like if companies want you to go behind the scenes, then you will get (Insert Sport Here) Manager (yes you, EA Sports!). If FIFA 12 had as deep a Player Manager mode as PES, then the war between these 2 would be won, but it's not to be. EA, take a hint, take FIFA Manager, chuck it and put it into the FIFA franchise and people would kill to get the next iteration!My timesink on FIFA 12 however, is the Ultimate Team. I didn't get a chance to play with it in FIFA 11 (because I got on so late in the gaming cycle) but gosh, this is fantasy football on steroids!!! It takes all of the elements of a CCG (collectible card game for those I lost there) and mixes it with the game playing elements and you get all kinds of crazy recipes! You can get rare players, equipment, cards that gives you stat boost and worst of all, it will cost you some coin. I won't lie, I spent about 10 bucks last night buying some packs to get a better team that what was given. And hanging around the auction house??? It's bad news because you will drool over the player cards that you want but don't have enough coin to buy. Also I like how the strength and chemistry of your team may be based on team mates, nationality or other factors. I think I spent about 2 or 3 hours on that before I remembered that I still had a career mode to play and never got to!What I am looking forward to seeing is how PES handles transfer deadlines as I have reached that point so far on FIFA 12 and I like the way they handle the last day so far and I am also interested to see how aggressive the AI on PES is when trying to lure your players away. I am also looking forward to see how players grown on both and compare notes to see which ones last and which don't.So, to wrap this up, in so many ways, this year's futbol war reminds me so much of 2004 when both Madden 2K5 and ESPN 2K5 games came out. Whereas Madden had all of the bells and whistles, 2K5 had more for it under the hood especially with the ESPN style presentation and became a benchmark game (that the Madden series still have yet to realize) that people still talk about today. Right now as it's only been a few days I have played FIFA and a day that I had with PES to call a clear winner. It's easy to see why gamers take both sides because what one has, the other doesn't and what one may do, the other does better and it's a shame that we can't magically merge both games together to have the perfect game. As a 1st Impression of both series, it's a tie with PES having a slight edge over FIFA in the career mode as well as gameplay and FIFA 12 having the advantage in presentation, on field graphical animation and Ultimate Team timesink.

You can't go wrong with either onePES 4 stars

FIFA 12 4 Stars Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 - Ebook Reader - Android - Amazon Kindle Fire - Fire'


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Muay Thai - mma, boxing


The material doesn't stretch much, but it still conforms to the hand nicely and works well if you want stiffer support, without going to the unforgiving traditional/all-cotton wraps. Because they are a little thick, they can really bunch up around the knuckles and thumb at times. Also, because they are thick, you may want to consider a shorter length. They're rugged and I believe that they will last for quite a while. I don't like how the wrinkles in the knuckle area don't relax after use (and not much after washing either) which can make them ill-fitting when you go to put them on. Still very good wraps though (a no-brainer at $4/pair) and had I not bought them at the same time as my Leone's, I probably would have given them a higher score. TITLE Classic Mexican Style Hand Wraps (Single Pair), Black - Boxing - Muay Thai - Ufc - Mma'


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Curve Case - curve case, case


This case was "sold by Amazon and fulfilled by Zenith Mobile." The description clearly says "leather," but it is EXACTLY the same vinyl case that came with my Blackberry from Verizon -- it even has the same part number on the tag inside. It's not worth the hassle to return it. Another reviewer had the same "problem" with this case when he ordered from MyNet Deals, so the problem seems to be with the case, not the seller. My hunch: Amazon's description is incorrect, and the basic "OEM" case is supposed to be vinyl.



I just ordered another one described as "lambskin," with a different Blackberry part number. I hope that one really is leather. OEM BLACKBERRY LEATHER CASE POUCH for 8800 8820 8830

My Blackberry phone interacts very well with this pouch. It provides a snug fit and the magnet closure has worked very well thus far. It is very well constructed and durable, as I have been using it for around a year now. Highly recommended.

I actually don't have a blackberry but an LG 500G. The case is a little wider than my phone but otherwise is great. The charge plug is not even obstructed with the phone in the case. The price was definitely way cheaper than even the low quality, overpriced stuff at Wally's. I could care less if the material is leather or vinyl. In my opinion, it is good enough to last for a few years when a new phone will be ushered in.

Based on on other reviews I bought a case for 8800 for my 8300 because I also have a rubber skin on my 8300. I have the rubber skin to protect my 8300 when I drop it. My 8300 with the skin fits very snug in the 8800 case so it never ever falls out of the case.



This case like all cases I have used, sometimes falls off from my belt or jeans. Which is why I don't give it a 5.

I am in need of a new BlackBerry swivel holster but am now looking to replace mine for the 3rd time. The original lasted well over a year. The next one (said leather...NOT) lasted 5 months and fell apart. Any news? - Case - Curve Case - 8320 - 8330'


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Marriage Counseling - relationships, divorce


Dr. Dobson is 100% correct in his methods. It IS guidance by the Lord. Showing TOUGH LOVE is the only way to help someone you love. Be it your spouse, a child or a relative. The methods in this book are not tricks. They delve into the psychology of what happens when someone feels "caged" in a relationship. It's based on the well known fact "the harder you try and hold on to someone, the harder they fight to get away."



And this book is not just for Marriage issues. Dr. Dobson lists 16 things you need to know when you enter into a relationship that can keep you from blowing it. Had I known then what I know now, I would be upset at myself. I blew 14 of the 16 things and it's no wonder she ran away calling me "clingy" and "soft." I was and Dr. Dobson showed me exactly why.



This book is NO GUARANTEE that you will win your spouse or significant other back. But, like anything else, if you don't do something you will more assuredly lose them anyway. Pray hard and read this book if you want to keep them. Learn to give them space.



While I may have blown my chances with my ex (and I think I have) at least I am sure I will never repeat the same mistakes again.



Single or Married, you need this book! Love Must Be Tough: New Hope for Marriages in Crisis

Dr. Dobson deals with another everyday issue that many of us don't know how to deal with. How to say no to the ones we love. I read this book when I was dealing with an unfaithful wife. Everything I had said hold on to her and "force" her to come back. Dr. Dobson recommended giving freedom since in the end no one can force another into staying in a relationship. He also deals with rebellious children which is basically the same thing as a wayward spouse. Sometimes NO is the answer. Yes you have the freedom to act that way but NO I will not tolerate you acting that way toward me. Yes you have the freedom to leave, but, NO I will not be here when you get back. Yes you have the freedom to commit adultery, but, NO I will not stay married to you if you choose that route. Yes you have the freedom to stay out all night, but, NO you cannot live here and continue to practice that behavior.A lot of the advice Dobson gives is common sense, that some of us can't see! ! when we are in the middle of those emotional situations that require us to think logically. I highly recommend this book.

This must be one of Dobson's most well-known books and for good reason. First of all, it is NOT a book on child discipline - "tough love" is used so much in relation to child rearing that one might be led to think that, but Dobson was probably teaching on this topic long before the phrase became part of popular culture. (Dobson does have excellent books on child rearing, too, though!)This is a book on relationships, and how one must always maintain their dignity and confidence regardless of what the relationship throws his way, and how appeasement may force a relationship apart because lack of self-respect causes a lack of respect for you among others.Although the bulk of the book talks primarily of divorce, separation, affairs and other marital problems, the principles apply to ALL relationships, and I, a never-married single adult, benefited greatly from it. There is, in fact, one chapter, "Loving Toughness for Singles" which discusses applying the principles of the book to dating relationships.The principles of this book need to be understood by everyone who desires to have healthy relationships. And it would be better to understand them sooner than later, and have to apply the principles in an attempt to repair a broken relationship.

I got this book right when I discovered my husband was having an affair with a coworker. I was pregnant and taking care of two toddlers, and totally devastated as I went through the nightmare of shock and grief that infidelity causes. I started out clinging to my husband, begging him to come to his senses. Then I got this book, and immediately told him he was free to go. It took tremendous pressure off, but it was excruciating to really let him go at a time I desperately needed him. The hardest part was just getting through the denial stage. it takes so long to actually come to grips that your spouse is so far gone. But once I did that I was able to put Dobson's advice to work. That was six gruelling months ago, and I have just found Michele Weiner Davis' book, The Divorce Remedy, which I WISH I had known about from the beginning. She isn't christian, but her philosophy is near identical to Dobson's. She takes you through a very emotion stabilizing, proactive, productive journey at a time when you feel totally powerless. Her book is about finding solutions that work; Dobson's is more about just the 'tough love' philosophy, with christian sensibilities.

If you find yourself in a similar situation to me you will find both books incredibly inspiring and encouraging. All I can say is that the more self respect and detachment I can muster up, the more my husband seems interested in sticking around. The more I cling, the farther away he goes. I have now experienced this phenomenon repeatedly over the months. Every time I am tough, it gets my husband's attention. I have made some big mistakes, and had some triumphs. I am still trying to wait out my husband's mid life crisis, and I am learning so much about respecting myself while I do so.

If you are neither comfortable with filing divorce, or being a doormat, you will find lots of excellent advice here.

Seven years ago, my husband left our marriage and told me he no longer wanted to have anything to do with me. I begged and pleaded with him to return, but the harder I pushed, the more he pulled away. I felt like I had lost every bit of dignity I ever possessed until I read this book and realized that begging is not an effective form of human communication. I decided to open up the cage door and let my husband go -- come what may and to stand tall, no matter what the outcome. The result was not what I wanted: my husband flew out of the cage and never came back. In spite of that, however, I learned that it's not worth giving away your dignity to anyone, no matter how much you love them. This book was one of the main tools God used to help get through the most difficult times of my life and I recommend it to anyone who is going through a divorce or seperation. - Relationships - Infidelity - Divorce - Marriage Counseling'


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